Contemporary

Bio

Chris Masters has been making dance work for over ten
years, and is currently director of ChrisMastersDance. His
work has been presented at Judson Memorial Church
(NYC), Detroit Opera House, Music Hall Performance Space
(Detroit), Boll Theatre (Detroit), 100 Grand (NYC), Dixon
Place (NYC), Triskelion Arts (NYC), and Irondale Center
(NYC), as well as held creative residencies at Public Space
One (Iowa City) and 555 Gallery (Detroit). Masters has
performed the work of Martha Clarke, Jeff Rebudal,
Colleen Thomas, Stephanie Liapis, Jana Hicks, Keith
Thompson, Doug Elkins, and Jan Erkert, among others.
Currently, Chris is performing with Third Rail Projects'
Then She Fell, recipient of a 2013 New York Dance and
Performance (Bessie) Award. As an educator, Masters has
served on the faculties of The University of Michigan -
Ann Arbor, Wayne State University, The University of Iowa,
the American College Dance Festival, Dance New
Amsterdam, 100 Grand, Gibney Dance Center, and
American Ballet Theatre's Summer Intensive. Chris holds a
BA in Finance/BS in Dance from Wayne State University
and a MFA in Choreography from The University of Iowa,
where he was an Iowa Arts Fellow.

Class Description

In my technique class, we will spend time together
investigating and experimenting with the body. With an aperture
open to the limitless potential inside each of us, we work
through both traditional and non-traditional movement patterns
luxuriating in our curiosities, testing our own hypotheses, and
hopefully, finding some truth. The vocabulary makes strong
reference to principles of Laban and Bartenieff, elements of
classical ballet and release technique, and lots and lots of
wiggling. In a warm environment, we free ourselves to take risk,
value both our talents and our restrictions, and celebrate being
part of a community. The class stacks upon itself, and
culminates in a lengthy phrase that is friendly to the mind and
feels great on the body. You will sweat, a lot.